Respiratory appt & urine sample?!

Have just had first appt through as on all medication GP/asthma nurse will suggest. Why would they want a urine sample though (mentioned on Choose and Book confirmation and hospital letter)? Haven't heard this before? Am tempted to ring them to check.

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That does sound a bit weird - I've been referred twice now to general respiratory (in different places) and neither time did they want a urine sample!

I'd definitely ring and check as it could just be a mistake - maybe copied over from a letter they sent to someone seeing a renal specialist or something. I had a letter today for a test which said 'thank you for cancelling your appointment on Monday 20th June, your new appointment is on Friday 17th June' - but this was the first letter I'd had about it and I definitely haven't cancelled anything!

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Every time I have my first letter to visit an outpatient department, the letter always states that you should bring a urine sample. I've never bothered and have never been asked for it. However, when I worked in outpatients I used to always ask my patients for their sample. Most hadn't brought one and it wasn't a problem unless we actually needed the sample - generally it was only checked as part of routine checks/observations, apart from obvious clinics like urology.

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Has been necessary a couple of times I have been but not the many others. I never take it with me, just need to provide if they do want it!!! Can get them quite a lot of 'information' I guess

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I think it's a fairly standard thing as I've been asked to take a urine sample with me whenever I go to a new clinic for the first time regardless of speciality.

[angievere]

I think it's a routine test for diabetes. But have never been tested in chest clinics!

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Actually a lot of respiratory clinics will ask for urine samples. They can now check for minute samples of nicotine, so they'll know if you smoke/are exposed to smoke and compare that to what you say! It's standard in RBH clinics

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I can see the sense in that - they may want to check that you do not have a urine infection which may contribute to breathingd difficulties, I.E. it has spread to the lungs.

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If you had a respiratory infection at the time of your appointment, the urine sample may have been taken to test for either Streptococcus pneumoniae or Legionella pneumophila bacteria which can both be detected in the urine (I know as I routinely test for these!).

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Hi Tj

Just seen cons, i always have to take urine sample every time as well.

Not certain, but think they check for diabetes plus some other tests.

Howie